Director Jeff Barnaby says his film “Rhymes for Young Ghouls” isn’t meant to be “political,” despite tackling the residential school system. Barnaby says he wanted to raise awareness in an entertaining, non-preachy way.CP Video

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The plan calls for minimum education standards consistent with provincial standards off-reserve. It also says students will have to meet attendance requirements and teachers will have to be properly certified.

Ottawa is to provide funding for core education, which includes language and cultural instruction, of $1.25-billion over three years starting in 2016. There’s a provision for a 4.5 per cent annual increase.

Another $500-million over seven years is to go toward infrastructure and $160-million over four years is set aside for implementation.

The Assembly of First Nations called the deal the beginning of a new era for First Nations children.

“Today is about … fairness, opportunity and hope for First Nations children, youth and students,” said the assembly’s national Chief Shawn Atleo.

“Today is a victory for First Nations leaders and citizens who have for decades, indeed since the first generation of residential school survivors, called for First Nations control of First Nations education.”

Graduation rates among First Nations children are among the very lowest in Canada. Many communities see only half of high school students finish their basic education.

Part of the expectation in the deal is that aboriginal schools award widely recognized diplomas and certificates to students who do finish their school on-reserve. The government says this requirement does not currently exist and has resulted in First Nations youth – not being able to prove their educational achievements – being turned away from jobs or post-secondary institutions.

It’s a package that has been years in the making and came close to collapse several times.

Harper’s Conservative government had let slide a general aboriginal funding arrangement that had been brokered with First Nations by former prime minister Paul Martin’s government in what was called the Kelowna Accord. Harper instead has focused his aboriginal policy primarily on education.

Discussions with First Nations were difficult from the get-go. Chiefs and grassroots membership, carrying brutal memories of residential schools, bristled at the idea of federal government involvement in their educational outcomes.

But the Assembly of First Nations agreed to work with Ottawa in the hopes of improving the funding situation on reserves across the country.

Ottawa’s insistence that funding in most places was adequate and that any new funding would be tied to legislation and accountability measures, led to a loud backlash.

A year ago, Atleo nearly lost his job for working closely with Harper. Chiefs objected to Ottawa’s approach and many demanded that Atleo walk away.

Also, within the federal cabinet, several ministers felt there was little political benefit to Harper continuing discussions.

As a last-ditch effort towards the end of last year, the AFN laid out several conditions for an agreement. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt made positive noises, which paved the way to Friday’s announcement.

Atleo still faces much anger in some First Nations circles for working with Harper.